Compared to its usual tranquility, Washington has been abnormally bustling this August, despite the sweltering weather. The talk of the town is not the present, but rather focused on the future – specifically the political futures of certain players. Amidst this, former Vice President Kamala Harris added fuel to the fire, publicly declaring she would not run for California’s gubernatorial position nor attempt another presidential run.
Harris attributed her decision to step back from future political pursuits to ‘the system being broken.’ Consistent with Democratic party tactics, these accusations of systemic failure conveniently arise during their political setbacks. Remarkably enough, these same Democrats never seem to find fault with the system when it favors their candidacies.
The media, a notorious player in the political field, perpetuates this culture of blaming the system more than it seeks to live in the present. Many people have been converted into political zealots, worshipping their side of the spectrum while being in constant denial of their chosen representatives’ inability to uphold their grand promises. The obsession with political figures and their faults has become the new idol, but much like the ancient gods described in the Old Testament, they never truly deliver.
In essence, Harris, and many like her, are placing their faith in a system that was never designed to solve all issues. Even while President Trump is striving, albeit with some flaws, to rectify the situation, the parallels of idolizing political figures and a broken system remain, due to the misplaced faith entrusted by voters.
C.S. Lewis, the brilliant mind behind ‘The Screwtape Letters,’ offers an interesting perspective on this very issue. In a prime excerpt from this classic, Lewis suggests that the supposed ‘broken system’ that Harris and others blame might in fact be a sign of personal failing rather than structural inadequacy.
The text reads something along these lines: ‘Ensure the patient continues to believe that the problem is out there in the ‘broken system’, while ignoring the issues within themselves.’ The narrative encourages political obsession as a tool to deflect from personal virtues and character traits, further suggesting that the problem may not lie in an abstract ‘system’, but rather within each individual.
The venerable bard, William Shakespeare, presents an insightful analysis of human nature through the character of Cassius in ‘Julius Caesar.’ Cassius posits ‘The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves,’ teaching us that our destiny is shaped more by our choices and actions than any uncontrollable fate.
Imagine the groundbreaking shift if our politicians took a page from the insights of Lewis or Shakespeare, empowering their constituents with statements like ‘I can’t do more for you than you can do for yourselves.’ Such wisdom would threaten the very existences of career politicians who rely on the public’s faith in the system and refusal to take personal responsibility, and perhaps shift the current political landscape for the better.
Our focus should be less on the political ‘gods’ and more on what we can control as individuals. Blaming a ‘broken system’ for our shortcomings is a convenient deflection, but it neither resolves the actual issues nor fosters personal growth.
According to Harris, the ‘system’ is amiss, yet we have tasked the government with duties it was never intended to undertake, thus disabling it from functioning as it should. This misplaced faith, along with the growing addiction to politics, bolsters the power of career politicians while the true interests of the citizens fall by the wayside.
Much like the ‘patient’ in Lewis’s story, the electorate is encouraged to fixate on politics to the point of distraction. The political gossip, arguments and the incessant focus on the flaws of distant politicians serve as a diversion from the voter’s own potential for self-improvement and positive change.
These distractions prevent the voters from acknowledging the actual source of the problem: not ‘out there’ in the so-called ‘broken system,’ but rather in their own unresolved biases and misconceptions. This absence of self-awareness leads to a perpetual cycle of disappointment in the political ‘gods’ that inevitably fail to uphold their grandiose promises.
Shakespearean wisdom would lead us to understand that our individual actions, rather than a nebulous system, have the most influence over our outcomes. By adopting this point of view, we might be able to foster a society less reliant on political idolatry and more focused on personal responsibility and growth.
The sooner the public realizes that they hold more power over their own lives than any politician, the sooner we may see a departure from the current cycle of disappointment and political obsession. This would require a seismic shift in societal attitudes, with a focus on self-reliance over blind faith in political figures or an allegedly ‘broken system’.
The conclusion is clear: personal growth and progress cannot be outsourced to political figures or a ‘system.’ The human condition necessitates an ongoing examination of personal character, virtues and decisions. Consequently, an unwavering fixation on politics and distant politicians is both unproductive and a glaring sign of self-neglect.
The existing system is not beyond repair; it simply wasn’t designed to absolve individuals of all responsibility. An overreliance on this system and a blind faith in political figures are more destructive to societal progression than any single politician or ‘system’. The time for self-reliance and personal growth is now, and the ‘system’ will evolve as its constituents do.
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